450gal with 180gal mangrove system AIO Build

[GriffinMarsh]

OVERVIEW

Over the last year I have helped design, build, stock, and maintain a 450gal(90x30x30 with 100gal sump) mixed reef for a friend. He has recently decided to move and is not taking his aquarium. He has offered the tank to me for a deal I couldn't refuse. Usually I don't like to take someones aquarium off their hands because I don't know exactly what has been done to the tank, but because I have been through the whole process and seen the aquarium on a regular basis, I'm confident in the transaction.

The dilemma...

I have a 36" mangrove in a separate system that I absolutely cannot part with. Since I'm taking the big tank, I've decided to tear down my "tub" that is housing the mangrove in. Due to my attachment with this one silly tree, I have hatched a plan that I would like some input on from all you fellow reefers... cuz I think it would be cool... and awesomesauce...

The plan

Because I do freshwater also, I have a custom Starphire 180gal(48x30x30 close dimensions to the saltwater tank) paludarium tank that I could tie in with the system. Here it is with my old roommate as a size comparison. And my mangrove in its old aquarium. I would probably add a few more, maybe a black and white mangrove.

I was thinking it would be cool to tie the two together creating a main display mixed reef, with a 180gal mangrove forest palladium tank with macro algae, clams, soft corals, lps, nps... It would sit parallel to 450gal like a separate peninsula style setup so it could be viewed from three sides. A benefit that I was thinking, was the possibility of tying in a separate sump to feed a surge device for more aggressive wave movement. Because the water would only go up half the paludarium, when a surge hits it could flood up the sides more and drain nicely to the full siphon overflow. Another advantage is utilizing the old misting system from the paludarium to rinse the mangrove leaves of salt instead of trying to manually mist them a couple times a week. Overall I think it is possible with proper planning. Good thing I have a couple weeks to get everything organized. Will start working on how to execute it later. I will keep updating as time progresses or if anything comes to mind that might be important.

A quick picture of the paludarium before it had to be torn down. Just imagine the water line a little higher with mangroves in it.

 

[greaps]

will be amazing!

 

[GriffinMarsh]

So I've been working on creating the rock structure for the 180gal portion of the build. Because of the low water level I wanted to make sure that the rock was fairly minimal but still retained the reef look. Luckily I have a surplus of dry rock that I can use and found some nice pieces that looked worn down from tides. The pictures are what you would see from the three viewable sides. With the surge working the labyrinth and networks through the live rock should have minimal dead spots and nice flow between the corals. The top of the highest rock is about 11" and there will be two inches+ of water above that. I'm already making a list of the soft corals and LPS corals that will be introduced to this side of the tank. Im also thinking about adding a live phyto dosing pump to this side that should be recirculated back into the 180 through the surge. This is hopefully a tank that could support sponges and other NPS (without minimal spot feeding) that would look great growing inside mangrove roots. Im also trying to get a section dedicated to clams that can be viewed well from above with minimal current distortion. Well that the update so far, hopefully in a couple weeks I will have pictures of the tear down/setup of the big tank.

 

[GriffinMarsh]

Here is a good layout of the holes in the glass. The far back right will be where the overflow box is, the top left is going to be the inlet for the close loop/surge, the lower left is the return for the closed loop or may not be used at all, and the two remains are the returns which will be run from a double check valve. PS don't mind the sand in the picture, that was for it when it was freshwater.

 

[Wonton Soup]

I've considered doing this many times as well! I'll definitely be following along.

The main concern is going to be salt creep but if you have your auto top off spray RO water through a peristaltic pump every day to cover the interior of the paludarium I think you can overcome this.

You should look into various halophytes and other plants that grow along the shores and coasts which are very saltwater hardy.

 

[GriffinMarsh]

I have looked into other marginal plants that might work, but have come across some concerns that maybe somebody more experienced could chime in on.

1. They seem hard to come by, and the majority are wild collected. Not really a huge concern but they may harbor something unwanted.

2. most are either found more inland in dune environments or are frequently purified by freshwater/brackish inner tidal areas. Again something that could possibly be overcome by RO/DI misting.

3. Most of the grasses I would be interested in get fairly large. Which may be a bonus :spin1:

4. A lot of the varieties are seasonal temperate perennials that may not tolerate tropical temps. Correct me if I'm wrong

I think it would be awesome to find some other plants. Ill check some of the other threads around the marine plant section to see if there is some encouraging information.